US20020134909A1 - Calibration apparatus for light emitting elements in an optical printer - Google Patents
Calibration apparatus for light emitting elements in an optical printer Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US20020134909A1 US20020134909A1 US09/352,592 US35259299A US2002134909A1 US 20020134909 A1 US20020134909 A1 US 20020134909A1 US 35259299 A US35259299 A US 35259299A US 2002134909 A1 US2002134909 A1 US 2002134909A1
- Authority
- US
- United States
- Prior art keywords
- light emitting
- emitting elements
- optical printer
- light
- photosensors
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Granted
Links
- 230000003287 optical effect Effects 0.000 title claims abstract description 91
- 239000004973 liquid crystal related substance Substances 0.000 claims description 19
- 239000003086 colorant Substances 0.000 claims description 5
- 230000000694 effects Effects 0.000 claims description 2
- 230000001678 irradiating effect Effects 0.000 claims description 2
- 238000012544 monitoring process Methods 0.000 abstract description 9
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 description 5
- 230000007423 decrease Effects 0.000 description 3
- 238000010586 diagram Methods 0.000 description 3
- 238000005070 sampling Methods 0.000 description 3
- 230000005540 biological transmission Effects 0.000 description 2
- 230000007723 transport mechanism Effects 0.000 description 2
- 101150004141 Vcan gene Proteins 0.000 description 1
- 230000000903 blocking effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000007246 mechanism Effects 0.000 description 1
Images
Classifications
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
- H04N1/00—Scanning, transmission or reproduction of documents or the like, e.g. facsimile transmission; Details thereof
- H04N1/40—Picture signal circuits
- H04N1/40025—Circuits exciting or modulating particular heads for reproducing continuous tone value scales
- H04N1/4005—Circuits exciting or modulating particular heads for reproducing continuous tone value scales with regulating circuits, e.g. dependent upon ambient temperature or feedback control
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
- B41J—TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
- B41J2/00—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed
- B41J2/435—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed characterised by selective application of radiation to a printing material or impression-transfer material
- B41J2/465—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed characterised by selective application of radiation to a printing material or impression-transfer material using masks, e.g. light-switching masks
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
- G06K—GRAPHICAL DATA READING; PRESENTATION OF DATA; RECORD CARRIERS; HANDLING RECORD CARRIERS
- G06K15/00—Arrangements for producing a permanent visual presentation of the output data, e.g. computer output printers
- G06K15/02—Arrangements for producing a permanent visual presentation of the output data, e.g. computer output printers using printers
- G06K15/12—Arrangements for producing a permanent visual presentation of the output data, e.g. computer output printers using printers by photographic printing, e.g. by laser printers
- G06K15/1204—Arrangements for producing a permanent visual presentation of the output data, e.g. computer output printers using printers by photographic printing, e.g. by laser printers involving the fast moving of an optical beam in the main scanning direction
- G06K15/1209—Intensity control of the optical beam
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
- G06K—GRAPHICAL DATA READING; PRESENTATION OF DATA; RECORD CARRIERS; HANDLING RECORD CARRIERS
- G06K15/00—Arrangements for producing a permanent visual presentation of the output data, e.g. computer output printers
- G06K15/02—Arrangements for producing a permanent visual presentation of the output data, e.g. computer output printers using printers
- G06K15/12—Arrangements for producing a permanent visual presentation of the output data, e.g. computer output printers using printers by photographic printing, e.g. by laser printers
- G06K15/1238—Arrangements for producing a permanent visual presentation of the output data, e.g. computer output printers using printers by photographic printing, e.g. by laser printers simultaneously exposing more than one point
- G06K15/1242—Arrangements for producing a permanent visual presentation of the output data, e.g. computer output printers using printers by photographic printing, e.g. by laser printers simultaneously exposing more than one point on one main scanning line
- G06K15/1247—Arrangements for producing a permanent visual presentation of the output data, e.g. computer output printers using printers by photographic printing, e.g. by laser printers simultaneously exposing more than one point on one main scanning line using an array of light sources, e.g. a linear array
Definitions
- the present invention relates to a calibration apparatus for adjusting to prescribed values the emission brightness of light emitting elements, such as light emitting diodes, in an optical printer.
- An optical printer selectively irradiates a photosensitive body, such as photographic film, with light from the light emitting elements thereof and forms images on the photosensitive body.
- the output voltage or current of the circuit for driving and controlling the quantity of light is usually set to an appropriate value so that these LEDs emit a prescribed quantity of light.
- an optical apparatus is shipped out after the calibration of the current value at which color balance is achieved for each R, G, and B LED, for example, so that the R becomes 5 milliamperes, G becomes 30 milliamperes, and B becomes 10 milliamperes.
- Such a pre-shipment calibration is carried out by sampling light from a light source under certain conditions with a phototransistor established outside the optical apparatus, converting the sampled light to a voltage value, comparing the converted voltage value to a reference voltage value, and adjusting the output voltage or current of the circuit for driving and controlling the quantity of light so that both values match.
- the light emitting elements to be calibrated with the calibration apparatus of the present invention are those of an optical printer which forms images on a photosensitive body by selective irradiation of a photosensitive body with light from the light emitting elements.
- the light emitting elements include photosensors for outputting changes in the emission brightness of the light emitting elements as electrical signals. The voltage value of the electrical signals from these photosensors is integrated over a prescribed period. The resulting value is compared with a reference voltage value and the emission brightness of the light emitting elements is adjusted accordingly.
- the optical printer is the line scanning type which forms images on the photosensitive body by irradiating each line with light and scanning a prescribed number of lines.
- the optical printer comprises a liquid crystal shutter which is controlled to pass or block light from each of the pixels on a line individually. Calibration is carried out by the photosensor detecting light transmitted by the liquid crystal shutter.
- the optical printer is constituted to be able to form images having a prescribed number of gradations on the photosensitive body by performing gradation control for each pixel by controlling the length of time the liquid crystal shutter allows passage of the light corresponding to each pixel.
- Calibration is performed by detecting a light of which graduation control by the liquid crystal shutter is done at about the middle of the prescribed number of gradations.
- calibration is performed by detecting light once the emission brightness of the light emitting elements, which varies from line to line, becomes constant.
- calibration is performed by detecting a light of a line which is to be at about the middle of a prescribed number of lines drived.
- the calibration apparatus for light emitting elements of an optical printer has the abovementioned structure and therefore has the following effects.
- SN ratio of the calibration apparatus can be high, without the photosensor output voltage varying greatly due to external noise light or external noise voltage, by sampling a value obtained by integrating over a prescribed time an output signal of the photosensor which detects light from the light emitting elements to output the detected value as an electrical signal.
- Exposure light of the prescribed strength can be attained for all gradation regions, by calibrating the light emitting elements by detecting light which passed through the liquid crystal shutter with the photosensor and detecting a light for which the liquid crystal shutter controls its gradation at half the maximum gradation.
- Exposure light of the prescribed strength can be attained for all regions of all scanning lines, by detecting the light once the brightness due to light emission for each line of light emitting elements becomes constant.
- FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view showing an example of an optical printer having light emitting elements to be calibrated with the calibration apparatus according to the present invention
- FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the calibration apparatus according to the present invention.
- FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the approximate structure of the calibration apparatus according to the present invention.
- FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the sensor signal processing circuit in the calibration apparatus according to the present invention.
- FIG. 5 shows the concept of the change of emission brightness with emission for each line of LEDs in the optical printer.
- the optical printer 1 comprises an optical head 100 , driving control circuit 10 , and head transport mechanism 300 .
- the optical head 100 is provided an LED light source 110 and an optical system 120 for controlling the light path of the light from the LED light source 110 .
- the scanning of the optical head 100 is carried out by the head transport means 300 with respect to the photosensitive paper 500 in the direction of the arrow B 1 .
- the LED light source 110 comprises two rows each of LED elements emitting red (R), green (G), and blue (B) light in R-G-B order and positioned vertically in that order over the photosensitive surface 500 a of the photosensitive paper 500 .
- the optical system 120 comprises a parabolic mirror 121 , cylindrical lens 122 , and reflector 123 .
- the parabolic mirror 121 reflects the light from the LED light source 110 in parallel rays.
- the cylindrical lens 122 converges the parallel beams reflected from the parabolic mirror 121 in only a direction perpendicular to the photosensitive surface 500 a.
- the focal point thereof is on the photosensitive surface 500 a.
- the reflector 123 reflects light from the cylindrical lens 122 toward the photosensitive paper 500 .
- Reference numeral 150 denotes the liquid crystal shutter which forms 640 pixels transverse to the photosensitive paper 6 , with one scanning electrode and 640 signal electrodes.
- Reference numeral 160 denotes the internal photosensor which measures the quantity of light within the optical head 1 .
- Reference numeral 10 denotes the driving control circuit for driving and controlling the optical printer.
- the rotary encoder 320 comprises a fin 321 and photointerrupter 323 .
- a plurality of openings 322 are formed in the fin 321 .
- the fin 321 is fixedly mounted on the rotary shaft of the direct current motor 310 and rotates with the rotary shaft of the direct current motor 310 .
- Light emitting elements and light receiving elements are mounted on the photointerrupter 322 in a manner such that they are opposing each other with the fin 321 therebetween. With the rotation of the fin 321 having the openings 322 , interruption and transmission of the light is done between the light emitting elements and light receiving elements. Electrical signals are output in synchronization with the interruption and transmission of the light so that the angle of rotation of the direct current motor 310 is detected.
- the rotation of the direct current motor 310 is reduced with the worm gear 350 and gears 361 , 362 , 363 and rotates the pulley 371 .
- the rotation of the pulley 371 is converted to the linear reciprocating motion of the endless wire 373 wrapped around pulleys 371 and 372 . Meanwhile, part of the wire 373 is affixed to the wire fixing portion 101 protruding from the side of the optical head 100 .
- the rotation of the pulley 371 therefore causes the optical head 100 to move in the scanning direction thereof.
- a position sensor comprising a pair of photointerrupters 210 , 220 , is affixed on the base plate 230 of the optical head 100 .
- the position of the optical head 100 is detected by a light interrupting panel 101 blocking the position sensors 210 , 220 as the optical head 100 moves.
- the LED light source 110 emits light in the sequence R, G, B.
- the light spreads transversely to the photosensitive paper 500 while reaching the parabolic mirror 121 .
- a band of light, as shown in FIG. 1, is reflected from the parabolic mirror 121 .
- the LED light source 110 emits light which is reflected as it spreads transversely (B 3 -B 4 direction) to the photosensitive paper 500 .
- This light is reflected by the parabolic mirror 121 into beams parallel in a direction transverse to the photosensitive paper 500 ; the beams advance in a direction opposite to the incoming light and reach the cylindrical lens 122 .
- the cylindrical lens 122 converges the light from the parabolic mirror 121 in a direction perpendicular (direction B 5 -B 6 ) to the surface of the photosensitive paper 500 .
- the beam converged by the cylindrical lens 122 is changed by 90 degrees with the flat reflector 123 and becomes a beam perpendicular to the surface of the photosensitive paper 500 .
- the beam passes through the liquid crystal shutter 150 and exposes the photosensitive surface 500 a of the photosensitive paper 500 .
- the beam reaching the photosensitive paper 500 is converged by the cylindrical lens 122 so as to form an image in a prescribed area of the photosensitive paper 500 .
- the beam which formed an image in the prescribed area of the photosensitive paper 500 becomes an R, G, and B beam in that order in the scanning direction (direction B 1 ).
- the optical head 100 moves at a uniform speed in the scanning direction (direction B 1 ) above the photosensitive paper 500 .
- the R LED emits light for a prescribed period of time and exposes a prescribed region of the photosensitive paper 500 .
- the G LED emits light for the same length of time and exposes the same region of the photosensitive paper 500 ; then the B LED emits light for the same length of time and exposes the same region exposed by R and G.
- the optical head 100 stops scanning at the position where the position sensor 210 turns off and returns once more to the head home position.
- This system comprises the optical printer 1 and an external monitoring apparatus (calibration apparatus) 400 .
- the optical printer 1 comprises the optical head 100 and driving control circuit 10 .
- the optical head 100 comprises the LED light source 110 , optical system 120 , liquid crystal shutter 150 , and internal photosensor 160 , as discussed above with reference to FIG. 1.
- the driving control circuit 10 comprises quantity of light controlling means 11 , internal comparison and control means 12 , reference value storage means 13 , and initial condition storage means 14 .
- the external monitoring apparatus 400 is electrically connected to the optical printer via a connector 440 only during optical calibration of the optical printer 1 .
- the external monitoring apparatus 400 comprises the external photosensor 410 , external comparison and control means 420 , and absolute reference voltage generating means 430 .
- the LED light source 110 of the optical printer 100 is controlled and driven by the driving voltage Vd, output by the quantity of light control means 11 of the driving control circuit 10 .
- the driving voltage Vd increases, the LED light source 110 emits more light; when the driving voltage Vd decreases, the LED light source emits less light.
- five (or three) external photosensors 410 are arranged crosswise on the photosensitive paper and receive the light Lout coming outside from the liquid crystal shutter 150 of the optical head 100 .
- the external photosensors 410 send the voltage corresponding to the received quantity of light to the sensor signal processing circuit 412 .
- the sensor signal processing circuit 412 processes (details below) this transmitted voltage signal and outputs this voltage signal as the calibration voltage Vcal.
- the external comparison and control means 420 take up the calibration voltage Vcal from the sensor signal processing circuit 412 , while taking up the absolute reference voltage Vro output from the absolute reference voltage generating means 430 .
- the external comparison and control means 420 compare these voltages Vcal and Vro and continue to generate the control signal Sc until these match.
- This control signal Sc enters the quantity of light control means 11 of the driving control circuit 10 and controls the output voltage Vd of the quantity of light control means 11 .
- the quantity of light emitted by the LED light source 110 is controlled by the output voltage Vd.
- a closed loop is formed, which connects a LED light source 110 , optical system 120 , liquid crystal shutter 150 , external photosensor 41 , external comparison and control means 420 and quantity of light control means 11 .
- the external comparison and control means 420 stops generating the control signal Sc and instead generates the write signal Sw.
- This write signal Sw enters the reference value storage means 13 of the optical printer 1 .
- the internal reference value storage means 13 store the output voltage Vs (that is, the value when LED light source 110 is driven optimally) of the internal photosensor 160 at the time when this write signal Sw is input (when Vcal becomes equal to Vro).
- the internal comparison and control means 12 of the driving control circuit 10 compares the output value of the internal photosensor 160 with the output value of the internal reference value storage means 13 and outputs a control signal Sic.
- the control signal Sic is input to the quantity of light control means 11 , which controls the output voltage Vd according to the value of that signal Sic and drives the LED light source 110 based on that output voltage Vd.
- a closed loop is formed, which connects a LED light source 110 , internal photosensor 160 , internal comparison and control means 12 and quantity of light control means 11 .
- the LED light source 110 is driven and the print operation is carried out in the state where the output Vs of the internal photosensor 160 matches the internal reference voltage Vri written to the internal reference value storage means 13 .
- the five external photosensors 410 are mounted on a sensor mounting portion 411 .
- the width of the region of the light receiving portions of the external photosensors 410 in the direction of travel of the photosensitive paper is greater than the total of the widths in the scanning direction of the three color, R, G, B, scanning lines. Consequently, with the time-division driving of the three colored beams R, G, B, it is possible for the three colored beams, R, G, B, to fall within (be detected by) the light receiving regions of the five photosensors 410 even if the optical head 100 is not moved.
- the optical printer 1 is affixed to the sensor mounting portion 411 so that the rays of R, G, B light from the optical head 100 irradiate the external photosensors 410 .
- the five external photosensors 410 are affixed to the sensor mounting portion 411 at equal intervals (intervals of about 20 mm) in a direction lengthwise to the optical scanning line.
- the central external photosensor 410 is positioned at the lengthwise center of the scanning line.
- the switches 413 a - 413 e switches the timing of the input of the output signal from the external photosensors 410 to the integrating circuits 414 a - 414 e.
- the arithmetic circuit 417 finds the mean value of the outputs (integrated values) of the five external photosensors 410 and outputs the result as the calibration voltage Vcal.
- a feature of the calibration apparatus is the inputting of the output from the external photosensors 410 to the integrating circuit 414 . Even if electrical noise or light noise from outside is input to the external photosensors 410 and the output voltage of those external photosensors 410 varies, the voltage variations due to noise are smoothed out by integrating the output voltage from the external photosensors 410 over a prescribed period of time, and an output voltage with a very high signal to noise ratio can be attained.
- the analog signal is input to the integrating circuit 414 shown in FIG. 4; the integrating circuit then integrates it. However, it is also possible to sample the instantaneous value of the analog signals several times, convert those values to a digital signal by digital processing, and integrate that.
- the arithmetic circuit 417 finds the mean value of the integrated output of the five external photosensors 410 to attain the calibration signal Vcal as discussed above; it may also find the mean value of the integrated output of only some, such as the central three, of the five external photosensors 410 .
- step 10 end calibration when the difference between the calibration voltages Vcal and the absolute reference voltage Vro is less than a prescribed value.
- FIG. 5 shows a bar graph of the line number of the emission of the LED light source 110 and the brightness at that numbered line when the optical printer 1 is driven as in actual operation with the LED light source 110 maintained at a constant driving voltage.
- the electrical resistance in the LED light source 110 drops because of the generation of heat during operation, even if the driving voltage does not change, and brightness gradually decreases from line to line. That decline levels off by the time the 100 th line is reached and after the 100 th line, the emission brightness becomes constant.
- the abovementioned calibration procedure has the sampling of the output begin at the time when the emission brightness of the LED light source 110 becomes constant.
Abstract
Description
- 1. Field of the Invention
- The present invention relates to a calibration apparatus for adjusting to prescribed values the emission brightness of light emitting elements, such as light emitting diodes, in an optical printer.
- 2. Description of the Prior Art
- An optical printer selectively irradiates a photosensitive body, such as photographic film, with light from the light emitting elements thereof and forms images on the photosensitive body.
- Prior to shipment of an optical apparatus, such as an optical printer using light sources comprising red (R), green (G), and blue (B) LEDs, the output voltage or current of the circuit for driving and controlling the quantity of light is usually set to an appropriate value so that these LEDs emit a prescribed quantity of light. In other words, an optical apparatus is shipped out after the calibration of the current value at which color balance is achieved for each R, G, and B LED, for example, so that the R becomes 5 milliamperes, G becomes 30 milliamperes, and B becomes 10 milliamperes.
- Such a pre-shipment calibration is carried out by sampling light from a light source under certain conditions with a phototransistor established outside the optical apparatus, converting the sampled light to a voltage value, comparing the converted voltage value to a reference voltage value, and adjusting the output voltage or current of the circuit for driving and controlling the quantity of light so that both values match.
- However, such a conventional calibration brings about variations in error due to noise because the photodiode samples an instantaneous value of light from the light source. Moreover, it is not necessarily possible to ensure that the properties of the light from the sampled light source match the properties of light from the light source when the optical printer is actually operating. For these reasons, reliable calibration has not been possible before now.
- It is an object of the present invention to provide a highly reliable calibration apparatus for light emitting elements of an optical printer which is not affected by external noise and which performs calibration in accordance with the actual operations of an optical printer.
- The light emitting elements to be calibrated with the calibration apparatus of the present invention are those of an optical printer which forms images on a photosensitive body by selective irradiation of a photosensitive body with light from the light emitting elements. The light emitting elements include photosensors for outputting changes in the emission brightness of the light emitting elements as electrical signals. The voltage value of the electrical signals from these photosensors is integrated over a prescribed period. The resulting value is compared with a reference voltage value and the emission brightness of the light emitting elements is adjusted accordingly.
- Furthermore, the optical printer is the line scanning type which forms images on the photosensitive body by irradiating each line with light and scanning a prescribed number of lines. The optical printer comprises a liquid crystal shutter which is controlled to pass or block light from each of the pixels on a line individually. Calibration is carried out by the photosensor detecting light transmitted by the liquid crystal shutter.
- Also, the optical printer is constituted to be able to form images having a prescribed number of gradations on the photosensitive body by performing gradation control for each pixel by controlling the length of time the liquid crystal shutter allows passage of the light corresponding to each pixel.
- Calibration is performed by detecting a light of which graduation control by the liquid crystal shutter is done at about the middle of the prescribed number of gradations.
- Furthermore, calibration is performed by detecting light once the emission brightness of the light emitting elements, which varies from line to line, becomes constant.
- Furthermore, calibration is performed by detecting a light of a line which is to be at about the middle of a prescribed number of lines drived.
- The calibration apparatus for light emitting elements of an optical printer, according to the present invention, has the abovementioned structure and therefore has the following effects.
- 1. SN ratio of the calibration apparatus can be high, without the photosensor output voltage varying greatly due to external noise light or external noise voltage, by sampling a value obtained by integrating over a prescribed time an output signal of the photosensor which detects light from the light emitting elements to output the detected value as an electrical signal.
- 2. Exposure light of the prescribed strength can be attained for all gradation regions, by calibrating the light emitting elements by detecting light which passed through the liquid crystal shutter with the photosensor and detecting a light for which the liquid crystal shutter controls its gradation at half the maximum gradation.
- 3. Exposure light of the prescribed strength can be attained for all regions of all scanning lines, by detecting the light once the brightness due to light emission for each line of light emitting elements becomes constant.
- The foregoing and other objects and features of the invention will become apparent from the following description of preferred embodiments of the invention with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
- FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view showing an example of an optical printer having light emitting elements to be calibrated with the calibration apparatus according to the present invention;
- FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the calibration apparatus according to the present invention;
- FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the approximate structure of the calibration apparatus according to the present invention;
- FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the sensor signal processing circuit in the calibration apparatus according to the present invention; and
- FIG. 5 shows the concept of the change of emission brightness with emission for each line of LEDs in the optical printer.
- An example of an optical printer having light emitting elements to be calibrated by the calibration apparatus, being an embodiment of the present invention, is explained with reference to FIG. 1.
- The
optical printer 1 comprises anoptical head 100,driving control circuit 10, andhead transport mechanism 300. - The constitution of the
optical head 100 is explained. - The
optical head 100 is provided anLED light source 110 and anoptical system 120 for controlling the light path of the light from theLED light source 110. The scanning of theoptical head 100 is carried out by the head transport means 300 with respect to thephotosensitive paper 500 in the direction of the arrow B1. - The
LED light source 110 comprises two rows each of LED elements emitting red (R), green (G), and blue (B) light in R-G-B order and positioned vertically in that order over thephotosensitive surface 500 a of thephotosensitive paper 500. - The
optical system 120 comprises aparabolic mirror 121,cylindrical lens 122, andreflector 123. Theparabolic mirror 121 reflects the light from theLED light source 110 in parallel rays. Thecylindrical lens 122 converges the parallel beams reflected from theparabolic mirror 121 in only a direction perpendicular to thephotosensitive surface 500 a. The focal point thereof is on thephotosensitive surface 500 a. Thereflector 123 reflects light from thecylindrical lens 122 toward thephotosensitive paper 500. -
Reference numeral 150 denotes the liquid crystal shutter which forms 640 pixels transverse to thephotosensitive paper 6, with one scanning electrode and 640 signal electrodes.Reference numeral 160 denotes the internal photosensor which measures the quantity of light within theoptical head 1.Reference numeral 10 denotes the driving control circuit for driving and controlling the optical printer. - The constitution of the
head transport mechanism 300 is explained next. - The
rotary encoder 320 comprises afin 321 andphotointerrupter 323. A plurality ofopenings 322 are formed in thefin 321. Thefin 321 is fixedly mounted on the rotary shaft of the directcurrent motor 310 and rotates with the rotary shaft of the directcurrent motor 310. Light emitting elements and light receiving elements are mounted on thephotointerrupter 322 in a manner such that they are opposing each other with the fin 321 therebetween. With the rotation of thefin 321 having theopenings 322, interruption and transmission of the light is done between the light emitting elements and light receiving elements. Electrical signals are output in synchronization with the interruption and transmission of the light so that the angle of rotation of the directcurrent motor 310 is detected. - The rotation of the direct
current motor 310 is reduced with theworm gear 350 andgears pulley 371. The rotation of thepulley 371 is converted to the linear reciprocating motion of theendless wire 373 wrapped aroundpulleys wire 373 is affixed to thewire fixing portion 101 protruding from the side of theoptical head 100. The rotation of thepulley 371 therefore causes theoptical head 100 to move in the scanning direction thereof. - A position sensor, comprising a pair of
photointerrupters optical head 100. The position of theoptical head 100 is detected by alight interrupting panel 101 blocking theposition sensors optical head 100 moves. - Next, the operation of the
optical printer 1 in FIG. 1 and the method for forming images on the photosensitive paper are explained. - The
LED light source 110 emits light in the sequence R, G, B. The light spreads transversely to thephotosensitive paper 500 while reaching theparabolic mirror 121. A band of light, as shown in FIG. 1, is reflected from theparabolic mirror 121. The LEDlight source 110 emits light which is reflected as it spreads transversely (B3-B4 direction) to thephotosensitive paper 500. This light is reflected by theparabolic mirror 121 into beams parallel in a direction transverse to thephotosensitive paper 500; the beams advance in a direction opposite to the incoming light and reach thecylindrical lens 122. - The
cylindrical lens 122 converges the light from theparabolic mirror 121 in a direction perpendicular (direction B5-B6) to the surface of thephotosensitive paper 500. The beam converged by thecylindrical lens 122 is changed by 90 degrees with theflat reflector 123 and becomes a beam perpendicular to the surface of thephotosensitive paper 500. Finally, the beam passes through theliquid crystal shutter 150 and exposes thephotosensitive surface 500 a of thephotosensitive paper 500. - The beam reaching the
photosensitive paper 500 is converged by thecylindrical lens 122 so as to form an image in a prescribed area of thephotosensitive paper 500. The beam which formed an image in the prescribed area of thephotosensitive paper 500 becomes an R, G, and B beam in that order in the scanning direction (direction B1). - The
optical head 100 moves at a uniform speed in the scanning direction (direction B1) above thephotosensitive paper 500. When the read position is detected with the headposition detecting mechanism 200, the R LED emits light for a prescribed period of time and exposes a prescribed region of thephotosensitive paper 500. Next, the G LED emits light for the same length of time and exposes the same region of thephotosensitive paper 500; then the B LED emits light for the same length of time and exposes the same region exposed by R and G. - In this way, while the
optical head 100 is moved at a uniform speed with respect to thephotosensitive paper 500, the above operations are repeated periodically. The same region on thephotosensitive paper 500 is thereby exposed with the three colors of light, R, G, B, and a colored image is formed. Also, gradation control is effected by controlling the exposure time for the three colors, R, G, B, with theliquid crystal shutter 150; this makes it possible to attain full color images. - In the present embodiment, there are 256 gradations for each of the three colors, R, G, B. When the writing of all the image data is complete, the
optical head 100 stops scanning at the position where theposition sensor 210 turns off and returns once more to the head home position. - Next, the general form of the system for calibrating the
LED light source 110 of theoptical printer 1 is explained using the block diagram in FIG. 2. - This system comprises the
optical printer 1 and an external monitoring apparatus (calibration apparatus) 400. Theoptical printer 1 comprises theoptical head 100 and drivingcontrol circuit 10. - The
optical head 100 comprises theLED light source 110,optical system 120,liquid crystal shutter 150, andinternal photosensor 160, as discussed above with reference to FIG. 1. - The driving
control circuit 10 comprises quantity of light controlling means 11, internal comparison and control means 12, reference value storage means 13, and initial condition storage means 14. - The
external monitoring apparatus 400 is electrically connected to the optical printer via aconnector 440 only during optical calibration of theoptical printer 1. Theexternal monitoring apparatus 400 comprises theexternal photosensor 410, external comparison and control means 420, and absolute reference voltage generating means 430. - The
LED light source 110 of theoptical printer 100 is controlled and driven by the driving voltage Vd, output by the quantity of light control means 11 of the drivingcontrol circuit 10. When the driving voltage Vd increases, the LEDlight source 110 emits more light; when the driving voltage Vd decreases, the LED light source emits less light. - Light from the LED
light source 110 enters theoptical system 120 as exposure light Lo and enters theinternal photosensor 160 as reference light Ls. The exposure light Lo passes through theoptical system 120 and theliquid crystal shutter 150 and becomes the external exposure light Lout for directly exposing the photosensitive paper 500 (FIG. 1). In this calibration system, however, the external exposure light Lout enters theexternal photosensors 410 of theexternal monitoring apparatus 400. - As shown in FIG. 3, five (or three)
external photosensors 410 are arranged crosswise on the photosensitive paper and receive the light Lout coming outside from theliquid crystal shutter 150 of theoptical head 100. Theexternal photosensors 410 send the voltage corresponding to the received quantity of light to the sensorsignal processing circuit 412. The sensorsignal processing circuit 412 processes (details below) this transmitted voltage signal and outputs this voltage signal as the calibration voltage Vcal. - The external comparison and control means420 take up the calibration voltage Vcal from the sensor
signal processing circuit 412, while taking up the absolute reference voltage Vro output from the absolute reference voltage generating means 430. The external comparison and control means 420 compare these voltages Vcal and Vro and continue to generate the control signal Sc until these match. This control signal Sc enters the quantity of light control means 11 of the drivingcontrol circuit 10 and controls the output voltage Vd of the quantity of light control means 11. The quantity of light emitted by the LEDlight source 110 is controlled by the output voltage Vd. - In other words, a closed loop is formed, which connects a
LED light source 110,optical system 120,liquid crystal shutter 150, external photosensor 41, external comparison and control means 420 and quantity of light control means 11. - When the calibration voltage Vcal matches the absolute reference voltage Vro, the external comparison and control means420 stops generating the control signal Sc and instead generates the write signal Sw. This write signal Sw enters the reference value storage means 13 of the
optical printer 1. The internal reference value storage means 13 store the output voltage Vs (that is, the value when LEDlight source 110 is driven optimally) of theinternal photosensor 160 at the time when this write signal Sw is input (when Vcal becomes equal to Vro). - When the internal reference value storage means13 store the optimum value for the output voltage Vs of the
internal photosensor 160 as noted above, the calibration is complete and theexternal monitoring apparatus 400 is disconnected from theoptical printer 1. - Subsequently, during normal use, the internal comparison and control means12 of the driving
control circuit 10 compares the output value of theinternal photosensor 160 with the output value of the internal reference value storage means 13 and outputs a control signal Sic. The control signal Sic is input to the quantity of light control means 11, which controls the output voltage Vd according to the value of that signal Sic and drives theLED light source 110 based on that output voltage Vd. - When the
external monitoring apparatus 400 is separated from theoptical printer 1, as discussed above, a closed loop is formed, which connects aLED light source 110,internal photosensor 160, internal comparison and control means 12 and quantity of light control means 11. The LEDlight source 110 is driven and the print operation is carried out in the state where the output Vs of theinternal photosensor 160 matches the internal reference voltage Vri written to the internal reference value storage means 13. - The value attained by calibrating the
optical printer 1 in FIG. 2 using theexternal photosensor 410 of theexternal monitoring apparatus 400 is stored one time in the internal reference value storage means 13. Comparing this stored value with the output of theinternal photosensor 160 makes it possible to calibrate theoptical printer 1 before every operation, as well as before shipment. - It is also possible to perform calibration only before shipment without using the
internal photosensor 160. In this case, the quantity of light control means 11 drive theLED light source 110 so as to attain a prescribed brightness, based on the value in the reference value storage means 13, without referring to the value of the internal photosensor. - Next, the case where five
external photosensors 410 are arranged transversely to the photosensitive paper is explained using FIG. 3. - The five
external photosensors 410 are mounted on asensor mounting portion 411. The width of the region of the light receiving portions of theexternal photosensors 410 in the direction of travel of the photosensitive paper is greater than the total of the widths in the scanning direction of the three color, R, G, B, scanning lines. Consequently, with the time-division driving of the three colored beams R, G, B, it is possible for the three colored beams, R, G, B, to fall within (be detected by) the light receiving regions of the fivephotosensors 410 even if theoptical head 100 is not moved. - The
optical printer 1 is affixed to thesensor mounting portion 411 so that the rays of R, G, B light from theoptical head 100 irradiate theexternal photosensors 410. The fiveexternal photosensors 410 are affixed to thesensor mounting portion 411 at equal intervals (intervals of about 20 mm) in a direction lengthwise to the optical scanning line. The centralexternal photosensor 410 is positioned at the lengthwise center of the scanning line. - Next, the sensor
signal processing circuit 412 is explained in detail using FIG. 4. - The sensor
signal processing circuit 412 comprises fiveswitches 413 a-413 e for conducting the output from the fiveexternal photosensors 410 to any of five integrating circuits 414 a-414 e for a prescribed period of time, five integrating circuits 414 a-414 e, five sample holding circuits 415 a-415 e, five A/D converters 416 a-416 e, and onearithmetic circuit 417. - The
switches 413 a-413 e switches the timing of the input of the output signal from theexternal photosensors 410 to the integrating circuits 414 a-414 e. - The output (analog signals) from the
external photosensors 410 passes through theswitches 413 a-413 e and enters the integrating circuits 414 a-414 e. The output from these integrating circuits 414 a-414 e passes through the sample holding circuits 415 a-415 e, enters the A/D converters 416 a-416 e, and is converted to digital signals. The digitized output signals from the A/D converters 416 a-416 e are input to thearithmetic circuit 417. - The
arithmetic circuit 417 finds the mean value of the outputs (integrated values) of the fiveexternal photosensors 410 and outputs the result as the calibration voltage Vcal. - A feature of the calibration apparatus according to the present invention is the inputting of the output from the
external photosensors 410 to the integrating circuit 414. Even if electrical noise or light noise from outside is input to theexternal photosensors 410 and the output voltage of thoseexternal photosensors 410 varies, the voltage variations due to noise are smoothed out by integrating the output voltage from theexternal photosensors 410 over a prescribed period of time, and an output voltage with a very high signal to noise ratio can be attained. - The analog signal is input to the integrating circuit414 shown in FIG. 4; the integrating circuit then integrates it. However, it is also possible to sample the instantaneous value of the analog signals several times, convert those values to a digital signal by digital processing, and integrate that.
- The
arithmetic circuit 417 finds the mean value of the integrated output of the fiveexternal photosensors 410 to attain the calibration signal Vcal as discussed above; it may also find the mean value of the integrated output of only some, such as the central three, of the fiveexternal photosensors 410. - The actual calibration procedure is explained below.
- 1. Set the
optical printer 1 on thesensor mounting portion 411. - 2. Set the reference value to the reference value storage means13.
- 3. Control the
liquid crystal shutter 150 so as to display the 128th gradation and have the LEDlight source 110 emit light for 105 lines as in actual operation of the optical printer. - 4. Detect G beam with
external photosensors 410 at the 100th line before reaching emission ofLED light source 110 for 105 lines. - 5. With the
arithmetic circuit 417, calculate the mean value of the output values of the five, or central three,external photosensors 410 from the G beam; store this value as the calibration voltage Vcal for the G beam. - 6. Detect B beam with external photosensors at the 101st line.
- 7. With the
arithmetic circuit 417, calculate the mean value of the output values of the five, or central three,external photosensors 410 from the B beam; store this value as the calibration voltage Vcal for the B beam. - 8. Detect R beam with external photosensors at the 102nd line.
- 9. With the
arithmetic circuit 417, calculate the mean value of the output values of the five, or central three,external photosensors 410 from the R beam; store this value as the calibration voltage Vcal for the R beam. - 10. Compare each of the calibration voltages Vcal for R, G, and B with the absolute reference voltages Vro; if there is some difference between Vcan and Vro, change the value of the reference value storage means13 by a prescribed value so as to eliminate that difference and drive the LED based on this updated value.
- 11. Return to step4 and repeat the operations through
step 10, end calibration when the difference between the calibration voltages Vcal and the absolute reference voltage Vro is less than a prescribed value. - In the calibration procedure explained above, the brightness of the emissions is sampled for the first time at the 100th line (See the above step4), without the brightness of emissions from the LED
light source 110 being sampled between the first line through the 99th line. The reason for this is explained below with reference to FIG. 5. - FIG. 5 shows a bar graph of the line number of the emission of the LED
light source 110 and the brightness at that numbered line when theoptical printer 1 is driven as in actual operation with theLED light source 110 maintained at a constant driving voltage. - According to the graph in FIG. 5, the electrical resistance in the LED
light source 110 drops because of the generation of heat during operation, even if the driving voltage does not change, and brightness gradually decreases from line to line. That decline levels off by the time the 100th line is reached and after the 100th line, the emission brightness becomes constant. - In consideration of this tendency, the abovementioned calibration procedure has the sampling of the output begin at the time when the emission brightness of the LED
light source 110 becomes constant.
Claims (17)
Applications Claiming Priority (3)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
JP20350898A JP2000033731A (en) | 1998-07-17 | 1998-07-17 | Calibration device of light emitting element in optical printer |
JP203508/1998 | 1998-07-17 | ||
JP10-203508 | 1998-07-17 |
Publications (2)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
US20020134909A1 true US20020134909A1 (en) | 2002-09-26 |
US6642492B2 US6642492B2 (en) | 2003-11-04 |
Family
ID=16475328
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US09/352,592 Expired - Fee Related US6642492B2 (en) | 1998-07-17 | 1999-07-14 | Calibration apparatus for light emitting elements in an optical printer |
Country Status (2)
Country | Link |
---|---|
US (1) | US6642492B2 (en) |
JP (1) | JP2000033731A (en) |
Cited By (11)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US20030116694A1 (en) * | 2001-12-26 | 2003-06-26 | Xerox Corporation | Illumination detection method for LED printbars |
US20030197113A1 (en) * | 2001-05-30 | 2003-10-23 | Watt Stopper, Inc. | Illumination management system |
US20050047133A1 (en) * | 2001-10-26 | 2005-03-03 | Watt Stopper, Inc. | Diode-based light sensors and methods |
EP1640169A2 (en) | 2004-09-27 | 2006-03-29 | Durst Phototechnik A.G. | Device to produce digital multi-colour images |
US20060176356A1 (en) * | 2005-02-07 | 2006-08-10 | Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd. | Printer |
US7190126B1 (en) | 2004-08-24 | 2007-03-13 | Watt Stopper, Inc. | Daylight control system device and method |
US20080100833A1 (en) * | 2006-10-25 | 2008-05-01 | Hewlett-Packard Development Company Lp | Laser calibration |
US20110032580A1 (en) * | 2009-08-07 | 2011-02-10 | Qisda (SuZhou) Co., ltd | Scanning device and scanning method thereof |
US20140118727A1 (en) * | 2012-10-30 | 2014-05-01 | Omron Corporation | Optical sensor |
US9116047B2 (en) * | 2013-10-11 | 2015-08-25 | Li-Cor, Inc. | Systems and methods for controlling the optical path length between a laser and an optical cavity |
US9678003B2 (en) | 2011-08-18 | 2017-06-13 | Li-Cor, Inc. | Cavity enhanced laser based isotopic gas analyzer |
Families Citing this family (9)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
JP2002067392A (en) * | 2000-08-31 | 2002-03-05 | Citizen Watch Co Ltd | Optical printer |
JP2002072119A (en) * | 2000-09-01 | 2002-03-12 | Fuji Photo Film Co Ltd | Light beam scanning apparatus |
JP5164302B2 (en) * | 2001-01-25 | 2013-03-21 | シチズンホールディングス株式会社 | Optical printer |
US7308375B2 (en) * | 2001-05-14 | 2007-12-11 | Jensen Nanette C | System and method for determining light source current |
KR100607991B1 (en) * | 2004-07-07 | 2006-08-02 | 삼성전자주식회사 | Calibration method of photosensor for image control apparatus and image control apparatus of printer |
DE602004027636D1 (en) * | 2004-10-28 | 2010-07-22 | Hewlett Packard Development Co | Illumination by means of a plurality of light sources |
CN101169340B (en) * | 2006-10-27 | 2010-12-08 | 鸿富锦精密工业(深圳)有限公司 | Main board light-emitting diode detection device and method |
TWI498625B (en) * | 2007-06-23 | 2015-09-01 | Qisda Corp | Display apparatus and brightness adjestment method thereof |
JP5439874B2 (en) * | 2008-03-18 | 2014-03-12 | 株式会社リコー | Image forming apparatus and image forming method |
Family Cites Families (13)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
GB8722944D0 (en) * | 1987-09-30 | 1987-11-04 | Plessey Co Plc | Calibration system for led array |
JPH0833590B2 (en) * | 1988-06-10 | 1996-03-29 | 富士写真フイルム株式会社 | Light intensity control method for printing lamp |
JP2675827B2 (en) * | 1988-08-26 | 1997-11-12 | 富士通株式会社 | Laser scanning device |
US5251021A (en) * | 1990-08-31 | 1993-10-05 | Eastman Kodak Company | Color sequential scanner incorporating a synchronized variable exposure shutter |
JP3288426B2 (en) * | 1992-05-19 | 2002-06-04 | シチズン時計株式会社 | Liquid crystal display device and driving method thereof |
US5860029A (en) * | 1993-10-20 | 1999-01-12 | Minolta Co., Ltd. | Camera system having a flash device capable of performing a high speed synchronized photography |
JPH07314775A (en) * | 1994-05-24 | 1995-12-05 | Canon Inc | Irradiating light quantity regulator and method therefor |
US6388694B1 (en) * | 1996-12-19 | 2002-05-14 | Minolta Co., Ltd. | Method for calculating the output characteristic of an optical tip array and image forming apparatus |
US6188427B1 (en) * | 1997-04-23 | 2001-02-13 | Texas Instruments Incorporated | Illumination system having an intensity calibration system |
US6014202A (en) * | 1997-09-16 | 2000-01-11 | Polaroid Corporation | Optical system for transmitting a graphical image |
US6233036B1 (en) * | 1998-01-20 | 2001-05-15 | Citizen Watch Co., Ltd. | Optical printer |
JPH11301025A (en) * | 1998-04-21 | 1999-11-02 | Minolta Co Ltd | Method for correcting light quantity of solid scanning type optical writing device |
JP2000039597A (en) * | 1998-07-23 | 2000-02-08 | Minolta Co Ltd | Image recorder |
-
1998
- 1998-07-17 JP JP20350898A patent/JP2000033731A/en active Pending
-
1999
- 1999-07-14 US US09/352,592 patent/US6642492B2/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
Cited By (26)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US6933486B2 (en) * | 2001-05-30 | 2005-08-23 | Watt Stopper, Inc. | Illumination management system |
US20030197113A1 (en) * | 2001-05-30 | 2003-10-23 | Watt Stopper, Inc. | Illumination management system |
US7164110B2 (en) | 2001-10-26 | 2007-01-16 | Watt Stopper, Inc. | Diode-based light sensors and methods |
US20050047133A1 (en) * | 2001-10-26 | 2005-03-03 | Watt Stopper, Inc. | Diode-based light sensors and methods |
US20030116694A1 (en) * | 2001-12-26 | 2003-06-26 | Xerox Corporation | Illumination detection method for LED printbars |
US6828538B2 (en) * | 2001-12-26 | 2004-12-07 | Xerox Corporation | Illumination detection method for LED printbars |
US7626339B2 (en) | 2004-08-24 | 2009-12-01 | The Watt Stopper Inc. | Daylight control system device and method |
US7190126B1 (en) | 2004-08-24 | 2007-03-13 | Watt Stopper, Inc. | Daylight control system device and method |
US20070120653A1 (en) * | 2004-08-24 | 2007-05-31 | Paton John D | Daylight control system device and method |
US8253340B2 (en) | 2004-08-24 | 2012-08-28 | The Watt Stopper Inc | Daylight control system, device and method |
US20100026194A1 (en) * | 2004-08-24 | 2010-02-04 | John Douglas Paton | Daylight control system, device and method |
EP1640169A2 (en) | 2004-09-27 | 2006-03-29 | Durst Phototechnik A.G. | Device to produce digital multi-colour images |
EP1640169A3 (en) * | 2004-09-27 | 2007-10-17 | Durst Phototechnik A.G. | Device to produce digital multi-colour images |
US20060176356A1 (en) * | 2005-02-07 | 2006-08-10 | Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd. | Printer |
US7589754B2 (en) * | 2005-02-07 | 2009-09-15 | Fujifilm Corporation | Printer |
WO2008057757A3 (en) * | 2006-10-25 | 2008-07-24 | Hewlett Packard Development Co | Laser calibration |
WO2008057757A2 (en) * | 2006-10-25 | 2008-05-15 | Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. | Laser calibration |
US20080100833A1 (en) * | 2006-10-25 | 2008-05-01 | Hewlett-Packard Development Company Lp | Laser calibration |
US20110032580A1 (en) * | 2009-08-07 | 2011-02-10 | Qisda (SuZhou) Co., ltd | Scanning device and scanning method thereof |
US9678003B2 (en) | 2011-08-18 | 2017-06-13 | Li-Cor, Inc. | Cavity enhanced laser based isotopic gas analyzer |
US20140118727A1 (en) * | 2012-10-30 | 2014-05-01 | Omron Corporation | Optical sensor |
CN103792638A (en) * | 2012-10-30 | 2014-05-14 | 欧姆龙株式会社 | Optical sensor |
US9448106B2 (en) * | 2012-10-30 | 2016-09-20 | Omron Corporation | Optical sensor |
US9593980B2 (en) * | 2012-10-30 | 2017-03-14 | Omron Corporation | Optical sensor |
US9116047B2 (en) * | 2013-10-11 | 2015-08-25 | Li-Cor, Inc. | Systems and methods for controlling the optical path length between a laser and an optical cavity |
US9581492B2 (en) | 2013-10-11 | 2017-02-28 | Li-Cor, Inc. | Systems and methods for controlling the optical path length between a laser and an optical cavity |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
US6642492B2 (en) | 2003-11-04 |
JP2000033731A (en) | 2000-02-02 |
Similar Documents
Publication | Publication Date | Title |
---|---|---|
US6642492B2 (en) | Calibration apparatus for light emitting elements in an optical printer | |
US7050657B2 (en) | Image reading system | |
US5729361A (en) | Color scanner using both variable led exposure time and photo detector output compensation | |
US11112721B2 (en) | Image forming apparatus | |
EP0785671B1 (en) | Image reading apparatus | |
US6201559B1 (en) | Method for measuring the quantity of light emergent from an optical tip array and image forming apparatus provided with an optical tip array | |
US7111784B2 (en) | Color image forming apparatus and color measurement controlling method therefor | |
US7022960B2 (en) | Photographic film image reading apparatus with film density detection | |
US5726437A (en) | Light intensity control device | |
US6386452B1 (en) | Image reading device with improved controller | |
US8724082B2 (en) | Semiconductor laser driver and image forming apparatus incorporating same | |
US5592218A (en) | Image reading apparatus having improved shading correction and quantity of light ratio measurement | |
US20100118355A1 (en) | Image reading apparatus | |
US6388694B1 (en) | Method for calculating the output characteristic of an optical tip array and image forming apparatus | |
US6829414B2 (en) | Multi-beam scanning apparatus | |
US20060017944A1 (en) | Image forming apparatus | |
US6469727B1 (en) | Optical quantity measuring method and optical quantity measuring apparatus using same | |
JP3503301B2 (en) | Light emission intensity control device, light beam irradiation device, and light beam recording / scanning device | |
JP2996465B2 (en) | Light beam output adjusting device and adjusting method thereof | |
JP3772169B2 (en) | Image forming apparatus | |
JP2008228190A (en) | Original reader and image forming apparatus provided with the same | |
JP2003011429A (en) | Solid scanning type optical write apparatus | |
JP3478059B2 (en) | Solid-state scanning optical writing device and method for measuring light quantity thereof | |
JP3871092B2 (en) | Light emitting device correction device | |
JP2005225000A (en) | Imaging device |
Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
---|---|---|---|
AS | Assignment |
Owner name: CITIZEN WATCH CO., LTD, JAPAN Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNORS:SHIOTA, AKIRA;MASUBUCHI, SADAO;REEL/FRAME:010112/0909 Effective date: 19990707 |
|
FEPP | Fee payment procedure |
Free format text: PAYOR NUMBER ASSIGNED (ORIGINAL EVENT CODE: ASPN); ENTITY STATUS OF PATENT OWNER: LARGE ENTITY |
|
FPAY | Fee payment |
Year of fee payment: 4 |
|
AS | Assignment |
Owner name: CITIZEN HOLDINGS CO., LTD., JAPAN Free format text: CHANGE OF NAME;ASSIGNOR:CITIZEN WATCH CO., LTD.;REEL/FRAME:019817/0701 Effective date: 20070402 |
|
REMI | Maintenance fee reminder mailed | ||
LAPS | Lapse for failure to pay maintenance fees | ||
STCH | Information on status: patent discontinuation |
Free format text: PATENT EXPIRED DUE TO NONPAYMENT OF MAINTENANCE FEES UNDER 37 CFR 1.362 |
|
FP | Lapsed due to failure to pay maintenance fee |
Effective date: 20111104 |